Gene 'causes heavy heart'

Researchers at Imperial College London have isolated a gene they believe is responsible for the development of a condition that can lead to a number of cardiac complications including heart disease.

Heavy heart, or cardiac hypertrophy, is caused when the endonuclease G gene becomes faulty and the resultant fatty heart tissue becomes less effective at pumping blood around the body.

Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Hopefully, in the future, we'll be able to target the root cause of some patients' heart conditions rather than treating the resulting symptoms."

He also believes gene-hunting techniques could now lead to more genetic markers of heart disease.

The World Heart Federation recently held its World Heart Day to highlight that up to 80 per cent of deaths attributed to heart disease can be prevented if people control lifestyle factors.